Writing to Inform and Entertain

Posts tagged “Covid-19”

In my last article, “A Micro Approach to Stopping Covid-19 Killing Your Business”, we looked at three activities nearly every business can undertake to set themselves up for a successful Covid-19 re-opening. I wanted to follow it up here, with some fantastic examples I’ve come across of businesses doing what I meant in this regard, because all come from everyday enterprises, across varied industries and all have one thing in common: Their mindsets are about service because they all know cashflow comes from customers who trust them. So, first up let’s recap those three activities nearly every business can use to transit out of lockdown: Regain consumer faith—Show that you’re COVIDsafe. Get an email address from every customer—but not for marketing. Put your reputation…

Merely three months after the World went into lockdown under the threat of Covid-19, countries are already rebooting their economies. All the while, the same pandemic remains on the loose, while no international coordination or planning exits. We’re all now herds in an abundantly risk-fraught cattle drive. It’s billionaire moguls in Australia, the UK and the United States, like Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes, who are pushing their local business and retail lobbies onto the 24-7 airwaves. Both men own or influence troubled media conglomerates and in Australia last week, Murdoch lost a billion dollars to his own cable company, Foxtel—a monopoly no less—whose lifeline hinged on the country’s National Rugby League. Stokes’ Seven Network broadcasts the similarly shelved Australian Rules Football. Both sports…

When I wrote my last article “Why Social Distancing Will Fail in Australia” earlier this week, the country had little inkling that just a couple of days later, the Federal Government would initiate a plan called a “3 Step Framework for a COVIDsafe Australia”. Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed frustration with his nation in lockdown and was now acquiescing to calls to get businesses humming again. And on paper it was a reasonable plan, for each State and Territory was free to decide when and what to implement—and the whole was underwritten by an agreement that Australians would adhere to social distancing to make it a success. Everything, ScoMo and his Chief Medical Officer said, hinged on that. So, Step 1 included a provision…

The average room in an Australian abode is 3 metres tall. Now ask someone to project that vision flat on the ground and tell you where they need to stand to be approximately 1.5 metres apart. Most won’t get it right for a number of reasons. Firstly, they’re terrible at math and won’t know the answer means standing at the two extremes of that plane. Secondly, they just won’t believe the answer—because nowhere in their lives, during the Covid-19 lockdown or prior, have they ever had to consistently experience it. Not queuing up for Job Seeker assistance, nor in the isles of their supermarket; not walking a path in a crowded park, nor in the good old days on public transport. Definitely not at…

He didn’t take it seriously at first, nor did his chief medical officer but thankfully six weeks after instigating the lockdown and isolation of Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had slowed the rate of his nation’s Covid-19 infection. Indeed, it took a measure of cajoling to summon both men into action—particularly the early threats by the premiers of Victoria and New South Wales to go it alone. Yet, soon after that attempted coup, Australia had the closest thing to a wartime government in place—a National Cabinet meeting regularly and voicing the same message. Still, without the pushing of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, in particular Australia’s creep to Level 3 containment—the point at which it finally put itself into an effective lockdown—would have…

When tomorrow dawns, so will Anzac Day: a day of memorial where the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand are honoured for their service to country encapsulated by one specific event in World War 1, the 1915 invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Aegean Sea. This year Covid-19 will ensure that no marches will occur, no massed crowds at ceremonies hearing the Last Post, no gatherings at Returned Services League clubs and pubs—only simple reflection as families remain indoors or offer a salute from their driveways or retirement villages. But this year’s commemoration holds a lesson unsurpassed since World War 1 and World War 2. Gallipoli marks a politically driven defeat in which the Anzac’s finest soldiers were sacrificed to the murderous…

Here’s something inspirational I came across today, from a visionary leader and founder of the California-based board and wargame company, GMT Games, Gene Billingsley: A quote from one of my heroes, legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. He used to preach to his players ‘Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with doing what you can.’ It sounds so simple and yet it is profound, both on the basketball court and in life. Fear, worry, doubt, focusing on our weaknesses, seeing how big or fast the enemy or opponent is—all these things can paralyze and keep us from moving forward, assessing our strengths, and using them to do what good we can in any circumstance. So I want you to understand, in a period…